Air ventilation device

ABSTRACT

An air ventilation apparatus for controlling foul odors around a toilet, the apparatus including a plurality of ducts disposed about the toilet for receiving air and a motorized means coupled to the ducts for directing foul air and airborne feces through said ducts. One duct carries water and solids into a sewage drain while air flow rises naturally and/or is pulled into an elongated vent by a motorized device (e.g., fan). The elongated vent runs substantially parallel to the duct and includes an opening in communication with the duct. A spring-based flapper valve prevents gases, water and/or solids from backing up into the toilet from duct.

CROSS-REFERENCE

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.12/123,291 filed May 19, 2008 which is incorporated herein by referencefor all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present invention relate to air circulationsystems, more specifically, to an air ventilation device for controllingodors and airborne feces near a toilet.

BACKGROUND

Various systems and devices have been proposed to treat foul odorsassociated with a conventional toilet. Although generally effective inoperation, such systems and devices have relatively complex structuresor cannot be easily and properly attached to the toilet. Moreover, suchsystems and devices may not effectively address the foul air surroundingthe toilet when the toilet is in use. Other systems are also ineffectivehandling airborne feces which can accumulate in and around toiletsincluding accompanying rooms.

As such, there exists a need for an air ventilation device for use witha toilet to effectively control odors and airborne feces near a toilet.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, a first embodiment of the present invention is an airventilation apparatus comprising: one or more ducts disposed about atoilet, said ducts configured to receive one or more gases and airbornefeces; and a motorized means, said motorized means operable to directsaid one or more gases and airborne feces through said one or moreducts. In one embodiment, the one or more ducts are integrated withinsaid toilet's under rim and pan regions. The motorized means may includea fan, blower or suction devices, wherein the one or more gases include,but are not limited to air, oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen andammonia.

A second embodiment of the present invention discloses an airventilation system comprising: a toilet having under rim and panregions; one or more ducts integrated within said under rim and panregions, said ducts configured to receive one or more gases and airbornefeces; and a motor operable to direct one or more gases and airbornefeces near said toilet through said one or more ducts.

The motorized means may include a fan, blower or suction devices,wherein the one or more gases include, but are not limited to, air,oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and ammonia.

Another embodiment may further include a pressurized means coupled tosaid motorized means, said pressurized means operable to actuate saidmotorized means. The pressurized means can include an on/off switch or apressurized switch disposed about a toilet seat of said toilet.Depending on the embodiment, one or more filters may be disposed aboutsaid one or more ducts, said filters adaptable to control the odor andcapture airborne feces around said toilet.

Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention willbecome evident from the following detailed description, drawings andclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an upper view of a toilet rim having a plurality ofapertures and openings;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a toilet incorporating an airventilation apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the toilet of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates another side view of the toilet of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of an urinal incorporating an airventilation apparatus according to another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate front and rear views of a portable toiletincorporating an air ventilation apparatus according to anotherembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A-7B illustrate two different types of vent tubes for theportable toilet of FIGS. 6A-6B;

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-section view of the vent tubes of FIGS.7A-7B;

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-section view of a filter for the vent tubesof FIGS. 7A-7B;

FIG. 10 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a toilet with a fan andair vents according to the embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 illustrates another cross-sectional view of a toilet with a fanand air vents according to the embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that theinvention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing fromthe spirit or essential character thereof. The presently disclosedembodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrativeand not restrictive.

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of a toilet bowl 10 including an under rimregion 12 having a plurality of apertures 14 and openings 16 disposedthereabout. The apertures 14 and openings 16 can be uniformly orrandomly situated about the under rim region 12 as desired. In oneinstance, the apertures 14 are capable of serving as drain holes orwater outlets 14, which allow water to be released into a body 18 of thetoilet bowl 10 during flushing/rinsing. Additionally, the apertures 14can also prevent the unit 10 from overflowing. The openings 16 arecapable of serving as input holes or air inlets 16 that are capable ofreceiving air, and other gases, and airborne feces around the toiletbowl 10 as represented by the arrows. The types of gas include oxygen,nitrogen, carbon dioxide and ammonia. The purposes of the apertures 14and openings will become more apparent in subsequent figures anddiscussion. It will be appreciated that the apertures 14 and openings 16can be formed by drilling, boring or milling techniques as known by oneskilled in the art. In the alternative, the apertures 14 and openings 16may be formed by molding said apertures 14 and openings 16 into thetoilet bowl 10 during the manufacturing process.

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of a toilet 40 incorporating an airventilation apparatus according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention. The toilet 40 includes a toilet bowl 10 similar to that shownin FIG. 1, the toilet bowl 10 having a central body 18 that can becoupled to a toilet pan 20 for passing waste and other materialscollected by said central body 18. The waste byproduct can accordinglybe expelled from the toilet pan 20 via a central duct 22 out to a drainpipe 24 as commonly understood. Like above, the toilet bowl 10 includesa plurality of water outlets 14 and air inlets 16 for dispensing waterand receiving air and other gases and airborne feces, respectively, asdescribed above. Although the plurality of apertures 14 and openings 16are integrated within the under rim region 12 of the toilet bowl 10, itwill be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the apertures 14 andopenings 16 can be fabricated as extensions and externally coupled tothe toilet bowl 10. In other words, external pipes and ducts (not shown)having corresponding apertures 14 and openings 16 may be coupled to thesides of the toilet bowl 10 for serving the same functions as thosedescribed above.

In this embodiment, one or more channels 26 can be fabricated within thetoilet pan 20 by drilling, boring or other techniques similar to thosedescribed above. The plurality of channels 26 correspond to theplurality of air inlets 16 such that a left channel 26 a leads to a leftair inlet 16 a, a right channel 26 b leads to a right air inlet 16 b,and front/back channels 26 c, 26 d lead to front/back air inlets 16 c,16 d, respectively. The channels 26 and inlets 16 can be configured withmore or fewer channels 26 and inlets 16 as desired. In other instances,the channels 26 and inlets 16 may be integrated or coupled as separatestandalone components. In one example, the channels 26 converge on acentral duct 22 such that any material that enters the inlets 16, e.g.,air or other gases and airborne feces, can be expelled out of thecentral duct 22. The channels 26 may wrap around or be offset from thecentral duct 22 as necessary. It will be understood by one skilled inthe art that the channels 26 can be configured or oriented as necessarywithin the toilet pan 20.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the toilet 40 of FIG. 2. As shown fromthis angle, the flow of air or other gases and airborne feces throughthe openings 16 and channels 26 can be facilitated by a motorized means28 encased within a housing 30 fabricated of ceramic, metal or plastic.Although the motorized means 28 can be situated within a pathway of thecentral duct 22 as illustrated, it is understood that the motorizedmeans 28 and associated housing 30 can be disposed about other areas ofthe toilet pan 20 as feasible. The type of motorized means 28 caninclude fans, blowers and air suction devices capable of being poweredby an external source. The fan, blower or suction device 28 can also bepowered by batteries. Other mechanical devices 28 capable of air suctionor air discharge can also be incorporated. The housing 30 helps toensure that the motorized means 28 does not come in contact with wateror other waste byproduct as such material travels down the central duct22. Additionally, a hingeable door 32 can be positioned adjacent to thehousing 30 to allow access to the motorized means 28 and to also ensurethat water and other waste byproduct do not make contact with themotorized means 28 should such material back up within the central duct22.

In another embodiment, the housing 30 may not be necessary and a recessor cavity may be molded within the toilet pan 20 for housing saidmotorized means 28. In another example, an access panel (not shown) canbe situated on the side of the toilet pan 20 as to provide access to themotorized unit 28 for repair, replacement or other diagnostic work whenneeded.

FIG. 4 illustrates another side view of the toilet 40 of FIG. 2. In thisembodiment, the motorized means 28 is coupled to a pressurized means 44,the pressurized means 44 being integrated about a toilet seat 42 of thetoilet 40. In one example, the pressurized means 44 is coupled to therim of the toilet seat 42. In another example, the pressurized means 44is a pressurized switch (e.g., pressurized springing means) disposedabout the bottom of the toilet seat 42 such that when a person sits onthe toilet seat 42, the weight of the user on the toilet seat 42actuates the pressurized means 44 thereby activating the air suctiondevice 28. When the user raises off of the toilet seat and thecorresponding weight is removed from the toilet seat 42, the pressurizedmeans 44 is accordingly released thereby deactivating the air suctiondevice 28. In the alternative, the pressurized means 44 can be an on/offswitch (not shown) for manually turning on and off the motorized means28, the on/off switch 44 being situated on the toilet 40 or a wall ofthe restroom. In other embodiments, motion sensors (not shown) can beincorporated about the restroom or surrounding areas of the toilet 40for activating the motorized means 28.

In operation, the air ventilation apparatus of the present inventionprovides a down draft that pulls air from around the toilet bowl 10 intothe channels 26. The air, including air having bad odor associated withwaste, and airborne feces, enter the one or more openings 16 disposedabout an under rim region 12 of the toilet bowl 10, into the channels26, out the central duct 22 and subsequently the external sewer line 24.The ventilation process can be further facilitated by the air suctiondevice 28, which provides additional suction power and can beautomatically or manually triggered as described above. The airventilation apparatus is able to keep the bathroom area smelling cleanwithout the use of chemicals, which are considered by many to be harmfulto persons and pets with respiratory problems, as well as to theenvironment. It also protects persons against the accumulation ofunhealthy airborne feces. Although described as a down draft system, itwill be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the air ventilationapparatus can also be an up draft system such that an air blower can beincorporated as a motorized means 28 for dissipating any foul odor andairborne feces that may linger around the toilet bowl 10, the air beingblown and discharged from the one or more openings 16 disposed about theunder rim region 12 in a reverse manner as described above.

FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of a urinal 50 incorporating anotherembodiment of the air ventilation apparatus according to the presentinvention. The urinal 50 includes a body 52 for depositing urine, waterand other byproducts. A plurality of air inlet apertures 54 are disposedabout the border of the body 52 for the passage of air and other gasessimilar to those described above. Although airborne feces is notnecessarily generated at the urinal, the system and filter may still beemployed to capture any airborne feces which may escape the toilet area.The apertures 54 can be interconnected via a plurality of internalpassageways 56 that are formed within the body 52 using moldingtechniques as can be appreciated by one skilled in the art. The innerpassageways 56 can also be formed via drilling, milling or boringmethods. Air and other gases and airborne feces are drawn toward thebottom of the urinal 50 via a motorized means 58 in a similar fashion asthat described above. In other instances, the motorized means 58 can besituated elsewhere about the urinal 50 as desired or feasible to controlthe odor about the urinal 50. The captured air is then directed throughthe sewer line associated with the urinal 50.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate perspective and side internal views of thesystem according to the embodiments of the present invention. Fanhousing cover 90 provides access to the fan 88 for maintenance ifrequired. Wire 99 provides power to the fan 88. As shown, a fan 88 isinstalled in the exhaust duct 89 positioned and configured to force theair received from openings 16 into the exhaust duct 89 which carries theair from the area in which the toilet is installed. Duct 91 carrieswater and solids into a sewage drain 92 while air flow, represented byarrows A, rises naturally and/or is pulled into elongated vent 95 by thefan 88 (or blower or suction device). The elongated vent 95 runssubstantially parallel to the duct 91 and includes an opening incommunication with the duct 91. The vent 95 may incorporate one or morefilters to capture particulates. An electronic eye switch 93 as known inthe art is shown installed on a wall proximate the toilet and acts toautomatically flush the toilet. Thus, the fan 88 is the only moving partin one embodiment. IN another embodiment, a spring-based flapper valve97 (movable in direction B) prevents gases, water and/or solids frombacking up into the toilet from duct 91. Advantageously, the toilet maybe molded as a single unit with the ducts 89 and 91 and vent 95 inplace.

In one embodiment, the system uses a 12V fan with a supply line thatruns under the floor up through the wall to a GFI outlet, where a 110Vconverter supplies 12V power to the 12V fan. In one embodiment, the GFIoutlet and converter be placed under a sink or counter top proximate thetoilet. In this embodiment, repair or replacement of the GFI outlet andconverter is simplified.

FIGS. 6A-6B illustrate front and rear views of a portable toilet 60(also known as a port-apotty) incorporating another embodiment of theair ventilation apparatus according to the present invention. Theportable toilet 60 may be found at sporting events, music concerts, autoraces, political rallies, construction sites and other events/venues.The port-apotty 60 includes a housing 62 that can be accessed via a door64, the housing 62 being configured to house a toilet (not shown)similar to that described above. Because of its portability, the toiletwithin the port-apotty 60 usually does not have a sophisticated plumbingsystem. As such, to facilitate circulation of the foul air or odor andairborne feces surrounding the port-apotty 60, a motorized means 82(best shown in FIG. 8) can be situated within a vent tube 70 of theport-apotty 60. In other examples, the motorized means 82 can also bedisposed about the roof of the housing 62 or the door 64. It will beappreciated by one skilled in the art that the motorized means 82 can besituated elsewhere about the port-apotty 60 as feasible and convenient.In this embodiment, the motorized means 82 can be powered by a batterysituated within a compartment 66 near the base of the port-apotty 60.Solar power may also be utilized to drive the motorized means 82 asport-apotties are situated outside.

FIGS. 7A-7B illustrate two different types of vent tubes 70 for theport-apotty 60 of FIGS. 6A-6B. In general, the vent tube 70 includes apipe 72 that extends away from the housing 62 of the portable toilet 60,the apex of the pipe 72 terminating with a weather guard cap having twoopenings 76 for allowing air or other gases and airborne feces to beexchanged between the atmosphere within the housing 62 and outsideambient atmosphere. In one embodiment, the motorized means 82 (bestshown in FIG. 8) is housed within the pipe 72 and accessed via a doorpanel 74. In another example, the pipe 72 includes a filter 78 tofacilitate filtration of the foul air or odor and airborne feces.

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the vent tubes 70 of FIGS.7A-7B. As discussed above, the motorized means 82 can be situated withina pipe 72 of the vent tube 70 to facilitate circulation of air or foulodor within the housing 62. When activated, the motorized means 82 isable to draw air or other odor and airborne feces within the housing 62upward and out to ambient atmosphere as shown by the arrows (bestillustrated in FIGS. 7A-7B). In this example, the motorized means 82 maybe sandwiched by a pair of filters 78. The types of filters 78 that canbe used include charcoal fiber filters or crystal filters withimpregnated fragrances. The filter 78 may incorporate paper-like fiberswith webbing for greater air flow. It will be understood by one skilledin the art that other suitable types of filters 78 may be incorporated.By venting through these filters 78, the surrounding area within thehousing 62 of the port-apotty 60 will smell fresher and be more sanitarywithout the airborne feces. Although two filter stacks 78 are shown,there can be more or fewer filters 78 as desired.

In operation, when the motorized means 82 is activated, a suction forceis provided within the vent tube 70 such that any foul air or odor andairborne feces are drawn upward from the housing 62 and into the pipe 72of the vent tube 70 as best shown by the arrows in FIGS. 7A-7B. The airor foul odor and airborne feces continue to be drawn upward by themotorized means 82 until it exits the housing 62 and dissipates into theexternal environment via the external openings 76 of the weather guardcap, once again best shown by the arrows in FIGS. 7A-7B. The filter 78,generally situated within the pipe 72 adjacent the motorized means 82,can facilitate the circulation process by providing fragrance andimproving the smell within the housing 62 as desired. The motorizedmeans 82 can be manually activated by a switching means located withinthe housing 62 or automatically by a motion sensor (not shown). Inanother embodiment, a pressurized means (not shown) may be disposedabout the door 64 of the port-apotty 60 such that the motorized means 82is automatically triggered when the door 64 opens and closes and remainsactivated for the duration of a user's presence within the port-apotty60. The motorized means 82 can subsequently be automatically deactivatedwhen the door 64 of the port-apotty 60 opens and closes once again whenthe user exits the port-apotty 60.

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a filter 78 having aplurality of openings 92 for allowing air or other gases and airbornefeces to freely flow through the filter 78. It will be appreciated byone skilled in the art that the function of a filter 78 is commonlyunderstood and will not be discussed in further detail.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference toseveral embodiments, additional variations and modifications existwithin the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined inthe following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A toilet comprising: a first duct for directingwater and solids to a sewer line; an elongated vent in communicationwith said first duct, said elongated vent positioned for directing airinto a second duct; said second duct containing a motorized device forexhausting air from said toilet.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinsaid motorized device is selected from the group consisting of: a fan,blower or suction device.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising one or more filters integrated within said second duct orelongated vent.
 4. A toilet comprising: a first duct for directing waterand solids to a sewer line; an elongated vent running substantiallyparallel to said first duct, said elongated vent having an opening incommunication with said first duct, said elongated vent extending into asecond duct for directing air to a second duct; and said second ductcontaining a motorized device for exhausting air from said toilet. 5.The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said motorized device is selected fromthe group consisting of: a fan, blower or suction device.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 4, further comprising one or more filters integratedwithin said second duct or elongated vent.
 7. A toilet comprising: afirst duct for directing water and solids to a sewer line; an elongatedvent running substantially parallel to said first duct, said elongatedvent having an opening in communication with said first duct, saidelongated vent extending into a second duct for directing air to asecond duct; said second duct containing a motorized device forexhausting air from said toilet; and a spring-biased flapper valvepositioned within said first duct and configured to prevent water andsolids to back up into said first duct.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein said motorized device is selected from the group consisting of:a fan, blower or suction device.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7, furthercomprising one or more filters integrated within said second duct orelongated vent.